The 1986 Handbook of
Indulgences is divided into 6 parts, the last of which is an appendix which is
not included here. I changed all the occurrences of the word
"plenary" to bold and highlighted them in yellow, to make plenary easier to find.
PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
On
During this same period the
following events have had some impact worth noting as regards indulgences: the
publication of the Neo-Vulgate edition of the Scriptures; the publication of
new ritual books and texts for liturgical celebrations; and, finally, the
promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church.
To be sure, the new Code has but
expressly confirmed the prescriptions already contained in the special laws already
issued concerning the use and the granting of indulgences. So even though all
these mentioned events have not basically changed anything concerning the
discipline on indulgences, nevertheless these new publications and norms should
be taken into account in order rightly to express those norms and in order to
furnish a listing of the works and prayers endowed with an indulgence. Such
have to be considered when there is need to cite the sacred scriptures, to
indicate the current regulations for liturgical actions, or to refer to the
new canons and their numbering.
It was therefore decided that
there was a need to prepare a new edition based upon the criteria mentioned
above. In this way The Handbook of Indulgences would then be in harmony
with other authentic texts which have liturgical and canonical force. And,
since the occasion furnished itself, it was also decided that it would be a
good time to add some new indulgenced grants that had been issued by Pope John
Paul II. He approved this present edition during an audience on
For purposes of historical
accuracy this third edition also includes the apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum
doctrina so that it can be seen that what is found in the original
document has undergone no change. For similar reasons this edition also
contains before its Introduction the text of the Decree of the Apostolic
Penitentiary dated
In publishing this third edition
of The Handbook of Indulgences, the Apostolic Penitentiary earnestly
hopes that the faithful are greatly aided in their quest for holiness, whether
through their devout use of indulgences or through their zeal for the charity
and good works which are the very root and foundation for indulgences.
Given at
+ Aloysius Cardinal Dadaglio,
Major Penitentiary
INTRODUCTION
1.
The publication of this Handbook fulfills the directive found in norm 13 of the
apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina: “The Enchiridion
indulgentiarum is to be revised with a view to attaching indulgences only
to major prayers and devotional, penitential, and charitable works.”
2.
With appreciation for both tradition and the changes of recent times, what
principle should be used in judging certain prayers and works to be outstanding
ones? Particularly appropriate would be those prayers and works which not only
help the faithful satisfy for punishment due their sins but also and especially
urge them on to a more fervent charity. This is the principle upon which this
revision is based.1
3.
Participation in the sacrifice of the Mass and in the sacraments is not
enriched with any indulgences. The reason is that tradition teaches that they
far outstrip any other activity as regards their efficacy in “sanctifying and
purifying.”2
But the reception of first holy communion, the
celebration of a first Mass by a newly ordained priest, the celebration of the
Mass which closes a eucharistic congress, etc., are special occasions. Such
occasions warrant the granting of an indulgence. But the latter is not so much
attached to the participation in the Mass or the sacraments as it is to the
extraordinary circumstances surrounding such participation. In this way an
indulgence is employed to promote and, as it were, to reward the devotional
zeal which characterizes such celebrations, which provides good example to
others, and which honors the sublime Eucharist and the priesthood.
Tradition also teaches, however, that an
indulgence can be attached to various works of private and public devotion.
Therefore such works of charity and repentance which ought to be given greater emphasis
in our times can be enriched with an indulgence. But all such works endowed
with indulgences should never in any way be set aside or apart from the Mass
and the sacraments. The Mass and the sacraments remain the outstanding
sources of sanctification and purification3 —no
matter how good any such indulgenced works and patiently endured sufferings may
be. Such good works and sufferings become the faithful’s offering which is
joined to Christ’s offering in the eucharistic sacrifice.4 In
this matter it is the Mass and the sacraments themselves which lead the
faithful to carry out the responsibilities placed on them so that “they put
into action in their lives what they have received in faith.”5 And,
conversely, it is by carefully carrying out their responsibilities that they become
better disposed day by day to participate fruitfully in the Mass and the
sacraments.6
4.
In light of the changed conditions of our times this Handbook puts more
emphasis on the action of the Christian faithful (the opus operantis) than
on the devotional works themselves (the opus operatum). For that reason
you will not find here any long list of such works, as if they could be
separated from the everyday life of the Christian faithful. You will find
given, however, a short list of indulgenced works.7 That
list contains those works considered more effective in urging the Christian
faithful to lead more useful and holier lives so that no longer will there
exist “that pernicious opposition between professional and social activity on
the one hand, and religious life on the other … but there will exist an
integration of human, domestic, professional, scientific, and technical
enterprises with religious values, under whose supreme direction all things are
ordered to the glory of God.”8
Great care has been taken to put more emphasis on
Christian living and on the formation of a spiritual attitude toward prayer and
repentance as well as toward the practice of the theological virtues. And less
emphasis has been put on the repetition of prayer formulas and actions.
5.
This Handbook first lists the norms for indulgences before listing the
different grants of indulgences. These norms are taken either from the
apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, or from the Code of
Canon Law.
It seemed useful for this Handbook to give
a comprehensive and orderly exposition of all the directives that exist at
present concerning indulgences. This was thought especially useful in order to
prevent any doubts that may arise in the future concerning this matter.
6.
This Handbook then first lists three rather broad types of indulgenced
grants. These come first to underscore the importance of leading a Christian
life day in and day out.
Each of these broader types of grant is followed
by some quotations from the scriptures and from the Second Vatican Council.
This was done for the benefit and instruction of the faithful to show that each
such grant is in harmony with the spirit of the Gospel and with the renewal
called forth by the Council.
7.
There then follows a listing of grants that concern various specific religious
works. The works listed here are indeed few in number since many such works are
already included under the broader types of grant mentioned above. In listing
specific prayers, it was decided to mention only those prayers that had a
somewhat universal appeal and character. Competent church authorities can
establish norms for other prayers customarily used in the different rites and
places.
Footnotes for the INTRODUCTION file
1 Cf. the Allocution of Pope Paul VI
to the College of Cardinals and to the Roman Curia,
2 Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarum
doctrina,
3 Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, no. 11.
4 Cf. Second
5 Roman Missal, Oration, Monday within the octave of Easter.
6 Cf. Second
7 Cf. below, especially nos. I-III, pp. 16-23.
8 Cf. Second
THREE GENERAL TYPES OF
INDULGENCED GRANTS
PRELIMINARY COMMENTS
1. These three general types of
indulgenced grants have for their purpose to encourage the Christian faithful
to structure into the texture of their everyday activities a Christian spirit1 and
to gear their lives toward the perfection of charity.2
2. The first and second types
of grant are more or less the same as many characteristic ones of the past. But
the third type of grant is much more in harmony with our own times. For there
is more advantage today to encourage the faithful to carry out penitential
practices on their own initiative in addition to the actual law of abstinence
from meat and the law of fasting—both of which are today rather mitigated.3
3. These three types of grant
are really rather broad, and each one of them concerns many works of the same
generic type. Nevertheless, not all such works are endowed with indulgences but
only those which are carried out in a special manner and spirit.
For the sake of example, let us consider the
first type of grant which is described as follows: “A partial indulgence is
granted to the Christian faithful who, while performing their duties and
enduring the difficulties of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and
make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.”
In this first type of grant an indulgence is
attached only to those acts in which the Christian faithful raise up their
minds to God as described above while they perform their duties and put up with
the difficulties of life.
Owing to human weakness, however, such special
acts are not very frequent. But when a person is so conscientious and devout
that he/she performs acts of this type several times during the day, then in
addition to a fuller increase of grace he/she rightly obtains a fuller
remission of punishment and can in charity render abundant assistance to the
souls in purgatory.
These same comments can be made in substance
concerning the other two general types of grants.
4. It is obvious that the three
types of grant are in special harmony with the gospels and with the teaching of
the Church as amply set forth in the Second Vatican Council. For this reason
and for the benefit of the faithful citations taken from the scriptures and
from the documents of this Council are given below for each of these general
types.
FIRST GENERAL TYPE OF
INDULGENCED GRANT
A partial indulgence is granted
to the Christian faithful who, while performing their duties and enduring the
difficulties of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least
mentally, some pious invocation.
This type of grant intends to assist the
Christian faithful in fulfilling the command of Christ: “You need to pray
always and not stop.”4 It also admonishes them
to carry out their duties in such a way that they maintain and increase their
union with Christ.
Mt 7:7-8: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the
door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who
seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Mt 26:41: Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
Lk 21:34-36: Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and
drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise
like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the
earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape
the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.
Acts
Rom
1 Cor
10:3 1: So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything
for the glory of God.
Eph 6:18: With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the
Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all
the holy ones.
Col 3:17: And whatever you do, in word or
in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him.
1 Thes 5:1 7-18: Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give
thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church Lumen Gentium, no. 41: Accordingly all Christians, in the
conditions, duties and circumstances of their life and through all these, will
sanctify themselves more and more if they receive all things with faith from
the hand of the heavenly Father and cooperate with the divine will, thus
showing forth in that temporal service the love with which God has loved the
world.
Vatican Council II, Decree on the Apostolate of
Lay People Apostolicam Actuositatem, no. 4: This life of intimate union
with Christ in the Church is maintained by the spiritual helps common to all
the faithful…. Lay people should make such a use of these helps that, while
meeting their human obligations in the ordinary conditions of life, they do not
separate their union with Christ from their ordinary life; but through the very
performance of their tasks, which are God’s will for them, actually promote the
growth of their union with him…. Family cares should not be foreign to their
spirituality, nor any other temporal interest; in the words of the apostle:
“Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”5
Vatican Council II, Pastoral Constitution on the
Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, no. 43: One of the gravest
errors of our time is the dichotomy between the faith which many profess and
the practice of their daily lives…. Let there, then, be no such pernicious
opposition between professional and social activity on the one hand and
religious life on the other.… Let Christians follow the example of Christ who
worked as a craftsman; let them be proud of the opportunity to carry out their
earthly activity in such a way as to integrate human, domestic, professional,
scientific and technical enterprises with religious values, under whose supreme
direction all things are ordered to the glory of God.
SECOND GENERAL TYPE OF
INDULGENCED GRANT
A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian
faithful who, prompted by a spirit of faith, devote themselves or their goods
in compassionate service to their brothers and sisters in need.
This second type of grant intends to induce the
Christian faithful to follow the example and the command of Christ Jesus6 by frequently performing works of charity and
mercy.
But this indulgence is not attached to all works
of charity. It is attached only to those works done “in compassionate service
to their brothers and sisters in need,” e.g., persons who are in need of food
or clothing for the body or in need of instruction or comfort for their
spirits.
Mt 25:35-36, 40: For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you
clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.... Amen, I
say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did
it for me.7
Jn 13:34-35: I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so
you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my
disciples, if you have love for one another.
Rom 12:8, 10-11, 13: If one exhorts, in exhortation; if one
contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does
acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.... Love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent
in spirit, serve the Lord.... Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
1 Cor
13:3: If I give away everything I own,... but do not have love, I gain
nothing.
Gal 6:10: While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to
those who belong to the family of the faith.
Eph 5:2: Live in love, as Christ loved us.
1 Thes 4:9: You yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
Heb 13:1: Let mutual love continue.
Jas 1:2 7: Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this:
to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself
unstained by the world.8
1 Pt 1:22: Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere
mutual love, love one another intensely from a pure heart.
1 Pt 3:8-9: Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one
another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or insult for
insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that
you might inherit a blessing.
2 Pt 1:5, 7: Make every effort to supplement your... devotion with mutual
affection, mutual affection with love.
1 Jn 3:17-18: If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him
compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in
word or speech but in deed and truth.
Vatican Council II, Decree on the Apostolate of
Lay People Apostolicam Actuositatem, no. 8: Wherever people are to be
found who are in want of food and drink, of clothing, housing, medicine, work,
education, the means necessary for leading a truly human life, wherever there
are people racked by misfortune or illness, people suffering exile or
imprisonment, Christian charity should go in search of them and find them out,
comfort them with devoted care and give them the helps that will relieve their
needs.... If this exercise of charity is to be above all criticism, and seen to
be so, one should see in one’s s neighbors the image of God to which they have
been created, and Christ the Lord to whom is really offered all that is given
to the needy.
Ibid., no. 31 c: Works of charity and mercy bear
a most striking testimony to Christian life; therefore, an apostolic training
which has as its object the performance of these works should enable the
faithful to learn from very childhood how to sympathize with their brothers and
sisters, and help them generously when in need.
Vatican Council II, Pastoral Constitution on the
Church in the Modern World Gaudium et spes, conclusion, no. 93:
Mindful of the words of the Lord: “This is how
all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,”9 Christians can
yearn for nothing more ardently than to serve the people of this age with an
ever growing generosity and success.... It is the Father’s will that we should
recognize Christ our brother in the persons of all people and love them with an
effective love, in word and in deed.
THIRD GENERAL TYPE OF INDULGENCED
GRANT
A partial indulgence is granted
to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penitence, voluntarily abstain
from something which is licit for and pleasing to them.
This third type of grant intends to urge the
Christian faithful to hold their appetites in check and thus learn to obtain
mastery over their bodies and conform themselves to the poor and suffering
Christ.’10
The excellence of self-control indeed stands out
more when it is combined with charity, as St. Leo the Great writes: “We should
spend on virtue what we take away from our pleasures. Thus through the
abstinence of the fasting person relief may come to the poor.”11
Lk 9:23: If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his
cross daily and follow me.12
Lk 13:5: If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did (cf. ibid. v. 3).
Rom
Rom
1 Cor 9:25-2 7: Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a
perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do
not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No. I drive my body and train it.
2 Cor
4:10: Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the
life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
2 Tm 2:11-12: This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him we shall also live
with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him.
Ti 2:12: [Rejecting] worldly desires [we should] live temperately, justly, and
devoutly in this age.
1 Pt 4:13: But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so
that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.
Vatican Council II, Decree on the Training of
Priests Optatam totius, no. 9: With special care they should be so
trained in priestly obedience, poverty and a spirit of self-denial, that they
may accustom themselves to living in conformity with the crucified Christ and
to giving up willingly even those things which are lawful.
Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church Lumen Gentium, no. 10: The faithful indeed, by virtue of their
royal priesthood, participate in the offering of the Eucharist. They exercise
that priesthood, too, by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and
thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, abnegation and active charity.
Vatican Council II, Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church Lumen Gentium, no. 41: The forms and tasks of life are many but
holiness is one—that sanctity which is cultivated by all who act under God’s
Spirit and, obeying the Father's s voice and adoring God the Father in spirit
and truth, follow Christ, poor, humble and cross-bearing, that they may deserve
to be partakers of his glory.
Apostolic Constitution on Christian Penance Paenitemini,
III, c: The Church nevertheless appeals to all the faithful together that
they obey the Lord’s command to repent not only through the hardships and
setbacks bound up with the nature of daily life, but also by acts of bodily
mortification....
The Church is intent especially upon expressing
the three principal ways, longstanding in its practice, which make it possible
to fulfill the divine command to repent. These are prayer, fasting, and works
of charity—even though fast and abstinence have had a privileged place. These
ways of penance have been shared by all the centuries; yet in our own time
there are particular reasons advanced in favor of one way of penance above the
others, depending on circumstances. For example, in the richer nations stress
is placed on the witness of self-denial so that Christians will not become
worldly; another emphasis is the witness of charity toward others, even those
in foreign lands, who are suffering poverty and hunger.13
THE OTHER TYPES OF INDULGENCED
GRANTS
1. A few more types of indulgenced grants are
here added to the three general types listed above in I-Ill. These other types
exhibit a distinctive character of their own since they take into consideration
the traditions of the past as well as the concerns of our own times.
All these other types of grant complement one another.
In offering the gift of an indulgence they intend to lead the Christian
faithful to perform works of devotion, charity, and penitence and to lead them
by means of charity to closer union with the body of the Church and with
Christ, its head.1
2. Certain prayers are listed
in this section. These prayers merit great respect owing to their divine
inspiration or their antiquity and upon their more or less universal usage,
e.g., the Creed (no. 16); the De Pro fundis (no. 19); the Magnificat
(no. 30); the Ancient Prayer to Mary (no. 57); the Hail, Holy Queen (no.
51); the Prayer for All Occasions (no. 1); and the Prayer of Thanksgiving (no.
7).
Upon close inspection it becomes obvious that
these prayers are already included in the first general type of grant. For
these prayers are recited in the course of their everyday lives by the
Christian faithful with hearts raised in humble trust to God.
As examples of such overlapping with the first
general type we can mention the Prayer for All Occasions and the Prayer of
Thanksgiving, since they are recited during the course of “carrying out one’s
duties.”
But it seemed helpful to list these prayers
separately as being endowed with indulgences in order to eliminate any doubt
and to indicate their prominence.
3. In this section are also
found individual works to which an indulgence is attached. The grant of a
partial indulgence is sometimes expressly stated and explained; but often it is
indicated only by the rubric: partial indulgence.
When some work is endowed with a plenary indulgence owing to special
circumstances, the plenary grant
and the special circumstances that define the work in detail are expressly
noted for each and every such grant. For the sake of brevity, the other types
of works endowed with indulgences are not so noted; and it is to be understood
that the indulgence attached to these works is a partial one.
As stated in norm 23, the requirements for
obtaining a plenary indulgence
are the execution of the work, the fulfillment of the three conditions, and
that full disposition of spirit that excludes all attachment to sin.
4. When the work to which a plenary indulgence is attached can easily
be divided into parts (e.g., the division of the Marian Rosary into decades), a
person who owing to some reasonable cause cannot complete the entire work can
obtain a partial indulgence for that part which was completed.
5. Worth special mention are those grants which
list works by which the Christian faithful, by performing any one of them, can
obtain a plenary indulgence every
day of the year:
— adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at
least one half hour (no. 3);
— devout reading of the Sacred Scriptures
for at least one half hour (no. 50);
— the devout performance of the Stations of
the Cross (no. 63);
— the recitation of the Marian Rosary in a
church or oratory, with members of the family, in a religious Community, or in
a pious association (no. 48).
But even in these instances what is stated in
norm 21, paragraph 1, retains its force, namely, a plenary indulgence can be obtained but once a day.
Footnotes
for the TYPES file
[Note: The
final footnote below, numbered "1", is not a typo; it is actually
given that number in the document. -jkh-]
1 Cf. 1 Cor
2 Cf.
Second
3 Cf.
Apostolic Constitution Paenitemini,
4 Lk 18:1.
5
6 Jn
7 Cf. Jn
8 Cf. Jas
2:15-16.
9
Jn 13:35.
10 Cf. Mt
11 Sermon 13 (sometimes referred to as Sermon 12), De ieiunio
decimi mensis, 2: PL 54:172.
12 Cf. Lk 14:27.
13 AAS, 58 [1966]: 182-183 [DOL 358, nos. 3019-3020]
1 Cf. Apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, no. 11.
NORMS FOR INDULGENCES
1. An indulgence is the
remission in the eyes of God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose
culpable element has already been taken away. The Christian faithful who are
rightly disposed and observe the definite, prescribed conditions gain this
remission through the effective assistance of the Church, which, as the
minister of redemption, authoritatively distributes and applies the treasury of
the expiatory works of Christ and the saints.1
2. An indulgence is either plenary or partial; that is, it frees a
person either from all or from some of the temporal punishment due to sins.2
3. No one gaining an indulgence
may apply it to other living persons.3
4. Both partial and plenary indulgences can always be applied
to the dead as suffrages.4
5. Any of the Christian
faithful who, being at least inwardly contrite, perform a work carrying with it
a partial indulgence, receive through the Church the remission of temporal punishment
equivalent to what their own act already receives.5
6. The division of indulgences
into “personal,” “real,” and “local” is no longer used. This is to make it
clear that the subject of indulgences is the Christian’s act, even though such
an act sometimes has a connection with a particular object or place.6
7. In addition to the supreme
authority of the Church the only ones who can grant indulgences are persons who
have this power recognized in law or granted them by the Pope.7
8. In the Roman
Curia the Apostolic Penitentiary alone has been put in charge of those matters
relating to the granting and use of indulgences. This is without prejudice,
however, to the right of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to
oversee whatever involves doctrinal teaching on indulgences.8
9. No authority
whatsoever below the pope may assign to others the power to grant indulgences,
unless such has been expressly granted that authority by the Apostolic See.9
10. From the outset of their
pastoral office, diocesan bishops and those equivalent to them in law have the
right to:
a. grant
partial indulgences to the Christian faithful committed to their care;
b. impart the papal
blessing with a plenary
indulgence, in accord with its prescribed formulary, three times a year in
their own dioceses at the end of a Mass which has been celebrated with special
liturgical beauty on solemnities or feasts that they will designate, even if
they only assist at the Mass.
11. Metropolitans may grant
partial indulgences in their suffragan dioceses just as in their own.
12. Patriarchs may grant
partial indulgences in every place, even those exempt, of their patriarchate,
in churches of their own rite outside the boundaries of their patriarchate, and
everywhere in the world for the faithful of their own rite. Archbishops major
have the same power.
13. Cardinals possess
everywhere the power to grant on particular occasions a partial indulgence that
may be gained only by those persons who are present.
14. a.
No book, booklet, or pamphlet listing indulgenced grants is to be published
without the permission of the local Ordinary or local Hierarch.
b. The publication,
in no matter what language, of an authentic collection of prayers and
devotional works to which the Apostolic See has attached indulgences requires
the express permission of the same Apostolic See.10
15. Those who have obtained
from the pope the granting of indulgences in favor of all the faithful are
bound by the obligation, under pain of nullification of the favor granted, to
send to the Apostolic Penitentiary authentic copies of the concessions given to
them.
16. An indulgence attached to
any feast is regarded as transferred to the day to which the same feast or its
external observance is lawfully transferred.
17. To gain an indulgence
attached to a particular day any required visit to a church or oratory may be
made from
18. The Christian faithful gain
a partial indulgence in devoutly using religious articles (e.g. crucifixes,
crosses, rosaries, scapulars, and medals) properly blessed by any priest or
deacon. But if these religious articles have been blessed by a pope or by any
bishop, the faithful devoutly using them may also gain a plenary indulgence on the solemnity of the
holy apostles, Peter and Paul, when they add to such use the profession of
faith recited in any approved formulary.11
19. a.
Indulgences attached to the visiting of a church do not expire if the church is
razed and then rebuilt within fifty years on the same or virtually the same
site and under the same title.
b. An indulgence
attached to the use of a religious article expires only when the article itself
ceases to exist or is sold.
20. a.
To be capable of gaining indulgences a person must be baptized, not
excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the time the prescribed
works are completed.
b.
Actually to gain indulgences the person must have at least the general intention
of doing so and must perform the acts enjoined at the time stipulated and in
the manner required according to the tenor of the grant.12
21. a.
A plenary indulgence may be gained
only once on any day.
b. A
member of the faithful may, however, gain a plenary
indulgence at the hour of death even after having gained one already on the
same day.
c. A
partial indulgence may be gained several times a day, unless something different
is explicitly stated.13
22. The prescribed work for
gaining a plenary indulgence
attached to a church or oratory is a devout visit there, which includes the
recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed (Pater and Credo), unless
otherwise stated in a specific grant.14
23. a.
Beside the exclusion of all attachment to sin, even venial sin, the
requirements for gaining a plenary
indulgence are the performance of the indulgenced work and fulfillment of three
conditions: sacramental confession, eucharistic communion, and prayer for the
pope’s intentions.
b.
Several plenary indulgences may
be gained on the basis of a single sacramental confession; only one may be
gained, however, on the basis of a single Eucharistic communion and prayer for
the pope’s intentions.
c. The three
conditions may be carried out several days preceding or following performance
of the prescribed work. But it is more fitting that the communion and the
prayer for the pope’s intentions take place on the day the work is performed.
d. If a person is
not fully disposed or if the prescribed work and the three mentioned conditions
are not fulfilled, the indulgence will only be partial; the prescriptions in N.
27 and N. 28 for those impeded are exceptions.
e. The
condition requiring prayer for the pope’s intentions is satisfied by reciting
once the Our Father and Hail Mary for his intentions; nevertheless all the
faithful have the option of reciting any other prayer suited to their own piety
and devotion.15
24. An indulgence cannot be
attached to a work to which a person is obliged by law or precept, unless
expressly stated in the grant. Nevertheless a person who performs a work
imposed as a penance in confession and which may also be indulgenced can at the
one time both satisfy the sacramental penance and gain the indulgence.
25. An indulgence annexed to
any prayer may be gained no matter what the language of recitation, provided
the accuracy of the translation is supported by a declaration either of the
Apostolic Penitentiary or of one of the Ordinaries or Hierarchs in the region
where the language of the translation is in general use.
26. To gain indulgences it
suffices to recite the prayer alternating with another person or to follow it
mentally as another recites it.
27. Confessors are empowered to
commute either the prescribed work or the necessary conditions in favor of
those for whom these are impossible because of some legitimate obstacle.
28. Local Ordinaries or
Hierarchs may also grant to the faithful subject to them, in keeping with canon
law, and who reside in places where they cannot go to confession or communion
at all or can do so only with great hardship that they may gain a plenary indulgence without actual
confession and communion, provided they have inner contrition and the
resolution to go to these sacraments as soon as possible.16
29. The hearing-impaired and
the speech-impaired can gain the indulgences attached to public prayers simply
by raising their minds and devotion to God as they are present with others of
the faithful praying in the same place. In the case of private prayers it is
enough for them to go over them mentally and express them in some sign or even
simply to read them without pronouncing the words.
Footnotes for the NORMS file
1 Apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm 1.
2 Ibid., norm 2.
3 Cf. 1983 Code of Canon Law, canon 994.
4 Apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm 3.
5 Ibid., norm 5.
6 Ibid., norm 12.
7 Cf. canon 995.1, C.I.C.
8 Cf. Apostolic
constitution Regimini Ecclesiae Universae,
9 Cf. canon 995.2. C.I.C.
10 Cf. canon 826.3, C.I.C.
11 Apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm 17.
12 Cf. Canon 996, C.I.C.
13 Apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm 6; cf. also norm 18.
14 Ibid., norm 16.
15 Cf. Apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norms 7, 8, 9, 10.
16 Cf ibid., norm 11.
THE GRANTS
In alphabetical order by Latin name
1
Actiones nostras
Lord,
may everything we do
begin with your inspiration
and continue with your help,
so that all our prayers and works
may begin in you
and by you be happily ended.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Roman
Missal, Thursday after Ash Wednesday, Opening Prayer; The Liturgy of the Hours,
Week I, Monday, Morning Prayer.)
A partial indulgence.
2
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful when they devoutly recite in any legitimate formula acts of
faith, hope, and charity and an act of contrition that is joined to them. The
individual acts are each endowed with the indulgence.
My God, I
believe in you,
I trust in you,
I love you above all things,
with all my
heart and mind and strength.
I love you because you are supremely good and
worth loving;
and because
I love you,
I am sorry
with all my heart for offending you.
Lord, have
mercy on me, a sinner.
Amen.
My God,
I am sorry
for my sins with all my heart.
In choosing
to do wrong
and failing
to do good,
I have
sinned against you
whom I
should love above all things.
I firmly
intend, with your help,
to do
penance,
to sin no
more,
and to avoid
whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior
Jesus Christ
suffered and
died for us.
In his name,
my God, have mercy.
3
Adoratio Ss.mi Sacramenti
Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful when they visit the Blessed Sacrament for the purpose of
adoration. When this is done for at least half an hour, the indulgence is a plenary one.
4
Adoro te devote
Hidden Here before Me, Lord
Hidden here
before me, Lord, I worship you,
Hidden in
these symbols, yet completely true.
Lord, my
soul surrenders, longing to obey,
And in
contemplation wholly faints away.
Seeing,
touching, tasting: these are all deceived;
Only through
the hearing can it be believed.
Nothing is
more certain: Christ has told me so;
What the
Truth has uttered, I believe and know.
Only God was
hidden when you came to die:
Human nature
also here escapes the eye.
Both are my
profession, both are my belief:
Bring me to
your Kingdom, like the dying thief.
I am not
like Thomas, who could see and touch;
Though your
wounds are hidden, I believe as much.
Let me say
so boldly, meaning what I say,
Loving you
and trusting, now and every day.
Record of
the Passion when the Lamb was slain,
Living bread
that brings us back to life again:
Feed me with
your presence, make me live on you;
Let that
lovely fragrance fill me through and through.
Once a
nesting pelican gashed herself to blood
For the
preservation of her starving brood:
Now heal me
with your blood, take away my guilt:
All the
world is ransomed if one drop is spilt.
Jesus, for
the present seen as through a mask,
Give me what
I thirst for; give me what I ask:
Let me see
your glory in a blaze of light,
And instead
of blindness give me, Lord, my sight. Amen.
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite the poem, Adoro te.
5
Adsumus
Prayer for Meetings
We stand
before you, Holy Spirit,
conscious of
our sinfulness,
but aware
that we gather in your name.
Come to us,
remain with us,
and
enlighten our hearts.
Give us
light and strength
to know your
will,
to make it
our own,
and to live
it in our lives.
Guide us by
your wisdom,
support us
by your power,
for you are
God,
sharing the
glory of Father and Son.
You desire
justice for all:
enable us to
uphold the rights of others;
do not allow
us to be misled by ignorance
or corrupted
by fear or favor.
Unite us to
yourself in the bond of love
and keep us
faithful to all that is true.
As we gather
in your name
may we
temper justice with love,
so that all
our decisions
may be pleasing
to you,
and earn the
reward
promised to
good and faithful servants.
Amen.
This prayer, which is usually recited before
meetings dealing with common concerns, is endowed with a partial indulgence.
6
Ad te, beate loseph
Prayer to
Blessed Joseph,
husband of Mary, be with us this day.
You protected and
cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child
Jesus as your Son,
you rescued him from
danger of death.
Defend the Church,
the household of God,
purchased by the
blood of Christ.
Guardian of the holy
family,
be with us in our
trials.
May your prayers
obtain for us
the strength to flee
from error
and wrestle with the
powers of corruption
so that in life we
may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice
in the crown of victory.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
7
Agimus tibi gratias
We give you thanks
for all your gifts,
almighty God,
living and reigning
now and for ever.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
8
Angele Dei
Prayer to the Guardian Angel
Angel sent by God to
guide me,
be my light and walk
beside me;
be my guardian and
protect me;
on the paths of life
direct me.
A partial indulgence.
9
Angelus Domini et
The Angelus and the
a) Throughout the year:
V) The angel spoke
God’s message to Mary,
R) and she
conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail, Mary…
V) “I am the lowly
servant of the Lord:
R) let it be done
to me according to your word.”
Hail, Mary...
V) And the Word
became flesh
R) and lived
among us.
Hail, Mary...
V) Pray for us, holy
Mother of God,
R) that we may
become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Lord, fill our
hearts with your grace: once, through the message of an angel you revealed to
us the incarnation of your Son; now, through his suffering and death lead us to
the glory of his resurrection.
We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
(Roman Missal, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Opening
Prayer.)
b) During the Season of Easter:
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For Christ, your Son and Son of God,
has risen as he said, alleluia.
Pray to God for us, alleluia.
V) Rejoice and be glad, 0 Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R) For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.
(Cf. The Liturgy of the Hours, Season of Easter, after Night Prayer.)
Let us pray.
God of life, you
have given joy to the world by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ. Through the prayers of his mother, the Virgin Mary, bring us to the
happiness of eternal life.
We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
(Roman Missal, Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Season of Easter, Opening Prayer.)
A partial indulgence is granted the Christian
faithful who devoutly recite these prayers during the times stated. According
to a praiseworthy custom these prayers are usually recited at dawn,
10
Anima Christi
Soul of
Christ, sanctify me.
Body of
Christ, heal me.
Blood of
Christ, drench me.
Water from
the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of
Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus,
hear me.
In your
wounds shelter me.
From turning
away keep me.
From the
evil one protect me.
At the hour
of my death call me.
Into your
presence lead me,
to praise
you with all your saints
for ever and
ever.
Amen.
(Roman Missal, p. 935.)
A partial indulgence.
11
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit one of the
four patriarchal basilicas in
1) on the basilica’s titular feast;
2) on Sundays and the other 10 holy days of
obligation;2
3) once a year on any other day chosen by
the individual Christian faithful.
12
Benedictio Papalis
Papal Blessing
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly receive the
blessing imparted either by the Roman Pontiff to the City and to the World or
by a bishop to the faithful entrusted to his care in accord with norm number
10, paragraph 2, of this Handbook. This grant extends also to such
blessings when given by means of radio or television.
13
Coemeterii visitatio
An indulgence is granted the Christian faithful
who devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the dead. This
indulgence is applicable only to the souls in purgatory. This indulgence is a plenary one from November 1
through November 8 and can be gained on each one of these days. On the other
days of the year this indulgence is a partial one.
14
seu “catacumbae” visitatio
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly visit a “catacomb,” i.e., a cemetery of the
early Christians.
15
Communionis spiritalis actus
Act of Spiritual Communion
An act of spiritual communion, expressed in any
devout formula whatsoever, is endowed with a partial indulgence.
16
Credo in Deum
Creed
Apostles’ Creed
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our
Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended
into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed
‘We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only
Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down
from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius
Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of
the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living
and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe
in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and
glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic
Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of
sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the
life of the world to come. Amen.
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite the above Apostles’ Creed or the
Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
17
Crucis adoratio
Adoration of the Cross
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly take part in the
adoration of the cross during the solemn liturgy of Good Friday.
18
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite Morning Prayer or Evening Prayer from
the Office for the Dead.
19
De profundis
Psalm 130
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite Psalm 130, the De Pro fundis (Out
of the depths I cry to you, 0 Lord).
Out of the
depths I call to you, Lord;
Lord, hear
my cry!
May your
ears be attentive
to my cry
for mercy.
If you,
Lord, mark our sins,
Lord, who
can stand?
But with you
is forgiveness
and so you
are revered.
I wait with
longing for the Lord,
my soul
waits for his word.
My soul
looks for the Lord
more than
sentinels for daybreak.
More than
sentinels for daybreak,
let
For with the Lord is
kindness,
with him is full
redemption,
And God will redeem
from all
their sins.
[Glory to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in
the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.]
20
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who either teach or study Christian doctrine.
N.B.—A person who teaches Christian doctrine
prompted by a spirit of faith and charity can acquire a partial indulgence
in accord with the second general type of indulgenced grant.
This present grant, number 20, restates the partial
indulgence as regards the teacher but extends it also to include the person
who studies Christian doctrine.
21
Domine, Deus omnipotens
Prayer at the Beginning of the Day
Almighty
God,
you have
given us this day:
strengthen
us with your power
and keep us
from falling into sin,
so that
whatever we say or think or do
may be in
your service and for the sake of your kingdom.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
22
En ego, o bone et dulcissime Iesu
Prayer before a Crucifix
Good and
gentle Jesus,
I kneel
before you.
I see and I
ponder your five wounds.
My eyes
behold what David prophesied about you:
“They have
pierced my hands and feet;
they have
counted all my bones.”
Engrave on
me this image of yourself.
Fulfill the
yearnings of my heart:
give me
faith, hope, and love,
repentance
for my sins,
and true
conversion of life.
Amen.
(Psalm 22:17-18; Roman Missal, pp. 935-936.)
On any Friday during Lent a plenary indulgence is granted
the Christian faithful who, after communion, devoutly recite the above prayer
before an image of Jesus Christ crucified. On other days of the year the
indulgence is a partial one.
23
Eucharistic Congresses
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly participate in
the solemn eucharistic rite which customarily closes a eucharistic congress.
24
Exaudi nos
Hear us,
Lord,
and send
your angel from heaven
to visit and
protect,
to comfort
and defend
all who live
in this house.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
25
Retreats
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who spend at least three full
days of spiritual exercises during a retreat.
26
Iesu dulcissime
Act of Reparation to the Sacred
Heart
Most loving
Jesus,
how great is
the love which you have poured out upon the world.
How casual
and careless is our response!
Kneeling
before you, we wish to atone
for the
indifference and the slights which pierce you to the heart.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
We ask forgiveness for our own shameful neglect.
We wish to make amends
for those who are obstinate in their unbelief,
for those who turn away from the light
and wander like sheep without a shepherd,
and for those who have broken their baptismal
promises
and reject the gentle yoke of your law.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
We wish to
make amends for the sins of our society:
for lust and
degradation,
for the
corruption of the young,
for
indifference and blasphemy,
for attacks
against your Church,
for irreverence
and even sacrilege
against your
love in this blessed sacrament,
and for the
public defiance of your law.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
These are
the sins for which you died,
but now we
share in your atonement
by offering
on the altar in union with you
the living
sacrifice you made on the cross,
joining to
it the sufferings of your Virgin Mother,
and those of
all the saints and the whole Church.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
We promise
faithfully
that by your
grace
we shall
make reparation for our own sins
and for
those of others
by a strong
faith,
by holy
living,
and by
obedience to the law of the Gospel,
whose
greatest commandment is that of charity.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
We also
promise to do our best
to
discourage others from insulting you
and bring
those we can to follow you.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
Jesus, Lord,
receive this
loving act of homage
together
with the prayers of our Lady,
who stood by
the cross,
our model in
reparation.
Keep us
faithful, even to the point of death,
give us the
gift of perseverance
and lead us
all to our promised land in heaven,
where you,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
live and
reign for ever and ever. Amen.
R) Praise
to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite the above act of reparation. This
indulgence will be a plenary
one when this Act of Reparation is publicly recited on the solemnity of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus.
27
Iesu dulcissime, Redemptor
Act of Dedication to Christ the
King
Loving
Jesus, Redeemer of the world,
we are yours,
and yours we wish to be.
To bind
ourselves to you even more closely
we kneel
before you today
and offer
ourselves to your most Sacred Heart.
R) Praise
to you, our Savior and our King.
Have mercy
on all who have never known you
and on all
who reject you and refuse to obey you:
gentle Lord,
draw them to yourself.
R) Praise
to you, our Savior and our King.
Reign over
the faithful who have never left you,
reign over
those who have squandered their inheritance,
the prodigal
children who now are starving:
bring them
back to their Father’s house.
R) Praise
to you, our Savior and our King.
Reign over those who are misled by error or divided by discord.
Hasten the day when we shall be one in faith and truth,
one flock with you, the one Shepherd.
Give to your Church freedom and peace,
and to all nations justice and order.
Make the earth resound from pole to pole with a single cry:
Praise to the Divine Heart that gained our salvation;
glory and honor be his for ever and ever. Amen.
R) Praise
to you, our Savior and our King.
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite the above Act of Dedication to Christ
the King. This indulgence will be a plenary
one when this Act is publicly recited on the solemnity of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, the King.
28
Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who
are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the
apostolic blessing, with its attached indulgence. But if a priest cannot be
present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly
disposed a plenary
indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of
death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The
use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary
indulgence.
In such a situation the three usual conditions
required in order to gain a plenary
indulgence are substituted for by the condition “provided they regularly prayed
in some way.”
The Christian faithful can obtain the plenary indulgence mentioned here as death
approaches (in articulo mortis) even if they had already obtained
another plenary indulgence that
same day.
This grant, number 28, is taken from the apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum
doctrina, norm 18.
29
Litaniae
Litanies
A partial indulgence is attached to each
of those litanies which have been approved by competent authority. The
following litanies are recommended as standing out from all the others: Litany
of the Holy Name; Litany of the Sacred Heart; Litany of the Precious Blood;
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Litany of Saint Joseph; and the Litany of
the Saints. (Translations are provided below.)
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have
mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
God our Father in
heaven
have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world
have mercy on us
God the Holy
Spirit
have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one
God
have mercy on us
Jesus, Son of the living God
have mercy on us
Jesus, splendor of the
Father
have mercy on us
Jesus, brightness of everlasting
light
have mercy on us
Jesus, king of
glory
have mercy on us
Jesus, dawn of
justice
have mercy on us
Jesus, Son of the Virgin
Mary
have mercy on us
Jesus, worthy of our
love
have mercy on us
Jesus, worthy of our
wonder
have mercy on us
Jesus, mighty
God
have mercy on us
Jesus, father of the world to
come
have mercy on us
Jesus, prince of
peace
have mercy on us
Jesus,
all-powerful
have mercy on us
Jesus, pattern of
patience
have mercy on us
Jesus, model of
obedience
have mercy on us
Jesus, gentle and humble of
heart
have mercy on us
Jesus, lover
of
chastity
have mercy on us
Jesus, lover of us all
have mercy on us
Jesus, God of
peace
have mercy on us
Jesus, author of
life
have mercy on us
Jesus, model of
goodness
have mercy on us
Jesus, seeker of
souls
have mercy on us
Jesus, our
God
have mercy on us
Jesus, our
refuge
have mercy on us
Jesus, father of the
poor
have mercy on us
Jesus, treasure of the
faithful
have mercy on us
Jesus, Good
Shepherd
have mercy on us
Jesus, the true
light
have mercy on us
Jesus, eternal
wisdom
have mercy on us
Jesus, infinite
goodness
have mercy on us
Jesus, our way and our
life
have mercy on us
Jesus, joy of
angels
have mercy on us
Jesus, king of
patriarchs
have mercy on us
Jesus, teacher of
apostles
have mercy on us
Jesus, master of
evangelists
have mercy on us
Jesus, courage of
martyrs
have mercy on us
Jesus, light of
confessors
have mercy on us
Jesus,
purity of
virgins
have mercy on us
Jesus, crown
of all
saints
have mercy on us
Lord,
be
merciful
Jesus, save your people
From all
evil
Jesus, save your people
From every
sin
Jesus, save your people
From the snares of the
devil
Jesus, save your people
From your
anger
Jesus, save your people
From the spirit of
infidelity
Jesus, save your people
From everlasting
death
Jesus, save your people
From neglect of your Holy
Spirit
Jesus, save your people
By
the mystery of your
incarnation
Jesus, save your people
By your
birth
Jesus, save your people
By your
childhood
Jesus, save your people
By your hidden
life
Jesus, save your people
By your public
ministry
Jesus, save your people
By your agony and
crucifixion
Jesus, save your people
By your
abandonment
Jesus, save your people
By your grief and
sorrow
Jesus, save your people
By your death and
burial
Jesus, save your people
By your rising to new
life
Jesus, save your people
By your return in glory to the
Father
Jesus, save your people
By your gift of the holy
eucharist
Jesus, save your people
By your joy and
glory
Jesus, save your people
Christ, hear
us
Christ, hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our
prayer
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Let us pray.
Lord,
may we who
honor the holy name of Jesus
enjoy his
friendship in this life
and be
filled with eternal joy in the kingdom
where he
lives and reigns for ever and ever.
R) Amen.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have
mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
God our
Father in
heaven
have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world
have mercy on us
God the Holy
Spirit
have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one
God
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal
Father
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit
in
the womb of the Virgin
Mother
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, one with the eternal
Word
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, infinite in
majesty
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of
God
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most
High
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of
heaven
have mercy on us
Heart of
Jesus, aflame with love for us
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of justice and
love
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and
love
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, well-spring of all
virtue
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, worthy of all
praise
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, treasure-house of wisdom and
knowledge
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom there dwells the fullness of
God
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well
pleased
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, from whose fullness we have all
received
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, desire of the eternal
hills
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, patient and full of
mercy
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, generous to all who turn to
you
have mercy on us
Heart of
Jesus, fountain of life and
holiness
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our
sins
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with
insults
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, broken for our
sins
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, obedient even to
death
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, pierced by a
lance
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of all
consolation
have mercy on us
Heart of
Jesus, our life and
resurrection
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our peace and
reconciliation
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, victim of our
sins
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, salvation of all who trust in
you
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, hope of all who die in
you
have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the
saints
have mercy on us
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
V) Jesus,
gentle and humble of heart.
R) Touch
our hearts and make them like your own.
Let us pray.
Father,
we rejoice
in the gifts of love
we have
received from the heart of Jesus your Son.
Open our
hearts to share his life
and continue
to bless us with his love.
We ask this
in the name of Jesus the Lord.
R) Amen.
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have
mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
God
our Father in
heaven
have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world
have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit
have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one
God
have mercy on us
Blood of
Christ, only Son of the
Father
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, incarnate
Word
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, of the new and eternal
covenant
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, that spilled to the
ground
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, that flowed at the
scourging
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, dripping from the
thorns
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, shed on the
cross
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, the price of our
redemption
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, our only claim to
pardon
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, our blessing
cup
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, in which we are
washed
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, torrent of
mercy
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, that overcomes
evil
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, strength of the
martyrs
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, endurance of the
saints
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, that makes the barren
fruitful
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, protection of the
threatened
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, comfort of the
weary
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, solace of the
mourner
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, hope of the
repentant
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, our peace and
refreshment
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, our pledge of
life
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, by which we pass to
glory
be our salvation
Blood of Christ, most worthy of
honor
be our salvation
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world
have mercy on us
V) Lord, you
redeemed us by your blood.
R) You
have made us a kingdom to serve our God.
Let us pray.
Father,
by the blood
of your Son
you have set
us free and saved us from death.
Continue
your work of love within us,
that by
constantly celebrating the mystery of our salvation
we may reach
the eternal life it promises.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
Litany of the Blessed Virgin
Mary (Litany of Loreto)
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have
mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
God our
Father in
heaven
have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world
have mercy on us
God the Holy
Spirit
have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one
God
have mercy on us
Holy
Mary
pray for us
Holy Mother of
God
pray for us
Most honored of
virgins
pray for us
Mother of
Christ
pray for us
Mother of the
Church
pray for us
Mother of divine
grace
pray for us
Mother most
pure
pray for us
Mother of chaste
love
pray for us
Mother and
virgin
pray for us
Sinless
Mother
pray for us
Dearest of
mothers
pray for us
Model of
motherhood
pray for us
Mother of good
counsel
pray for us
Mother of our
Creator
pray for us
Mother of our
Savior
pray for us
Virgin most
wise
pray for us
Virgin rightly
praised
pray for us
Virgin rightly
renowned
pray for us
Virgin most
powerful
pray for us
Virgin gentle in
mercy
pray for us
Faithful
Virgin
pray for us
Mirror of
justice
pray for us
Throne of
wisdom
pray for us
Cause of our
joy
pray for us
Shrine of
the
Spirit
pray for us
Glory of
Israel
pray for us
Vessel of selfless
devotion
pray for us
Mystical
Rose
pray for us
Tower of
David
pray for us
Tower of ivory
pray for us
House of
gold
pray for us
Ark of the
covenant
pray for us
Gate of
heaven
pray for us
Morning
Star
pray for us
Health of
the
sick
pray for us
Refuge of
sinners
pray for us
Comfort of the
troubled
pray for us
Help of
Christians
pray for us
Queen
of
angels
pray for us
Queen of patriarchs and
prophets
pray for us
Queen of apostles and
martyrs
pray for us
Queen of confessors and
virgins
pray for us
Queen of all
saints
pray for us
Queen conceived without
sin
pray for us
Queen assumed into
heaven
pray for us
Queen of the
rosary
pray for us
Queen of
peace
pray for us
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
V) Pray for
us, holy Mother of God.
R) That
we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Eternal God,
let your
people enjoy constant health in mind and body.
Through the
intercession of the Virgin Mary
free us from
the sorrows of this life
and lead us
to happiness in the life to come.
Grant this
through Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have
mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
God our Father in
heaven
have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the
world
have mercy on us
God the Holy
Spirit
have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God
have mercy on us
Holy
Mary
pray for us
Saint
Joseph
pray for us
Noble son of the House of
David
pray for us
Light of
patriarchs
pray for us
Husband of the Mother of
God
pray for us
Guardian of the
Virgin
pray for us
Foster father of the Son of
God
pray for us
Faithful guardian of
Christ
pray for us
Head of the holy
family
pray for us
Joseph, chaste and just
pray for us
Joseph, prudent and
brave
pray for us
Joseph, obedient and
loyal
pray for us
Pattern of
patience
pray for us
Lover of
poverty
pray for us
Model of workers
pray for us
Example to
parents
pray for us
Guardian of
virgins
pray for us
Pillar of family
life
pray for us
Comfort of the
troubled
pray for us
Hope of the sick
pray for us
Patron of the
dying
pray for us
Terror of evil
spirits
pray for us
Protector of the
Church
pray for us
Lamb of God, you
take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world
have mercy on us
V) God made him
master of his household.
R) And put him in
charge of all that he owned.
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
in your infinite
wisdom and love
you chose Joseph to
be the husband of Mary,
the mother of your
Son.
As we enjoy his
protection on earth
may we have the help
of his prayers in heaven.
We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
Lord, have
mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have
mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Holy Mary, Mother of
God
pray for us
Saint
Michael
pray for us
Holy angels of
God
pray for us
Saint John the
Baptist
pray for us
Saint Joseph
pray for us
Saint Peter and Saint
Paul
pray for us
Saint
Andrew
pray for us
Saint
John
pray for us
Saint Mary
Magdalene
pray for us
Saint
Stephen
pray for us
Saint Ignatius of
Antioch
pray for us
Saint
Lawrence
pray for us
Saint Perpetua and Saint
Felicity
pray for us
Saint
Agnes
pray for us
Saint
Gregory
pray for us
Saint
Augustine
pray for us
Saint
Athanasius
pray for us
Saint
Basil
pray for us
Saint
Martin
pray for us
Saint
Benedict
pray for us
Saint Francis and Saint
Dominic
pray for us
Saint Francis Xavier
pray for us
Saint John
Vianney
pray for us
Saint
Catherine
pray for us
Saint Teresa of
Jesus
pray for us
(Other names of saints may be
added.)
(pray for us)
All holy men and women
pray for us
Lord,
be
merciful
Lord, save your people
From all
evil
Lord, save your people
From every
sin
Lord, save your people
From everlasting
death
Lord, save your people
By your coming as
man
Lord, save your people
By your death and rising to new
life
Lord, save your people
By your gift of the Holy
Spirit
Lord, save your people
Be merciful to us
sinners
Lord, hear our prayer
Guide and protect your holy
Church
Lord, hear our prayer
Keep the pope and all the clergy in
faithful
service to your
Church
Lord, hear our prayer
Bring all peoples together in trust and
peace
Lord, hear our prayer
Strengthen us in your
service
Lord, hear our prayer
Jesus, Son of the living God
Lord, hear our prayer
Christ, hear
us
Christ, hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our
prayer
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer
Let us pray.
God of our ancestors
who set their hearts on you,
of those who fell
asleep in peace,
and of those who won
the martyrs’ violent crown:
we are surrounded by
these witnesses
as by clouds of
fragrant incense.
In this age we would
be counted
in this communion of
all the saints;
keep us always in
their good and blessed company.
In their midst we
make every prayer
through Christ who
is our Lord for ever and ever.
R) Amen.
30
Magnificat
Canticle of Mary
+ My soul proclaims
the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior;
for he has looked
with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all
generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has
done great things for me,
and holy is his
Name.
He has mercy on
those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the
strength of his arm,
he has scattered the
proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the
mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up
the lowly.
He has filled the
hungry with good things,
and the rich he has
sent away empty.
He has come to the
help of his servant
for he has
remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise
he made to our fathers,
to Abraham
and his children for ever.
[Glory to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in
the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.]
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite the canticle called the Magnificat.
31
Mary, mother
whom we bless,
full of
grace and tenderness,
defend me
from the devil’s power
and greet me
in my dying hour.
A partial indulgence.
32
Memorare, o piissime Virgo Maria
Remember,
most loving Virgin Mary,
never was it
heard
that anyone
who turned to you for help
was left
unaided.
Inspired by
this confidence,
though
burdened by my sins,
I run to
your protection
for you are
my mother.
Mother of
the Word of God,
do not
despise my words of pleading
but be
merciful and hear my prayer.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
33
Miserere
Psalm 51
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who recite the Miserere, psalm 51, in a spirit of penitence.
Have mercy
on me, God, in your goodness;
in your
abundant compassion blot out my offense.
Wash away
all my guilt;
from my sin
cleanse me.
For I know
my offense;
my sin is
always before me.
Against you
alone have I sinned;
I have done
such evil in your sight
that you are
just in your sentence,
blameless
when you condemn.
True, I was
born guilty,
a sinner,
even as my mother conceived me.
Still, you
insist on sincerity of heart;
in my inmost
being teach me wisdom.
Cleanse me
with hyssop, that I may be pure;
wash me,
make me whiter than snow.
Let me hear
sounds of joy and gladness;
let the
bones you have crushed rejoice.
Turn away
your face from my sins;
blot out all
my guilt.
A clean
heart create for me, God;
renew in me
a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive
me from your presence,
nor take
from me your holy spirit.
Restore my
joy in your salvation;
sustain in
me a willing spirit.
I will teach
the wicked your ways,
that sinners
may return to you.
Rescue me
from death, God, my saving God,
that my
tongue may praise your healing power.
Lord, open
my lips;
my mouth
will proclaim your praise.
For you do
not desire sacrifice;
a burnt
offering you would not accept.
My
sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit;
God, do not
spurn a broken, humbled heart.
Make Zion
prosper in your good pleasure;
rebuild the
walls of Jerusalem.
Then you
will be pleased with proper sacrifice,
burnt
offerings and holocausts;
then
bullocks will be offered on your altar.
[Glory to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in
the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.]
34
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly take part in a publicly celebrated novena
before the solemnity of Christmas, Pentecost, or the Immaculate Conception of
the Blessed Virgin Mary.
35
Obiectorum pietatis usus
Use of Devotional Objects
The Christian faithful obtain a partial
indulgence when they make devout use of a devotional object (such as a
crucifix or cross, a rosary, a scapular, or a medal) which has been rightly
blessed by any priest or deacon.3
If the devotional object has been blessed by the
Pope or by any bishop, the Christian faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence while making
devout use of it on the solemnity of the holy apostles, Peter and Paul,
provided they add to its use a profession of faith made in any legitimate
formula.
This grant is taken from the apostolic
constitution Indulgentiarum doctrina, norm
16. See also above, norm 19, p. 21.
36
Officia parva
Little Offices
The following Little Offices are endowed with a partial
indulgence: the Little Office of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ; the
Little Office of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the Little Office of the Blessed
Virgin Mary; the Little Office of the Immaculate Conception; and the Little
Office of Saint Joseph.
37
vocationes impetrandas
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who recite a prayer approved for this purpose by
ecclesiastical authority. (The following prayer has received such approval.)
Lord,
in your love for the Church,
you provide bishops, priests and deacons
as shepherds for your people,
and you call men and women to leave all things
to serve you joyfully in religious life.
May those
whom you have raised up
as servants
of the Gospel and ministers for your altars
show forth
dedication and compassion.
May those
whom you have chosen to serve you as religious
provide by
their way of life
a convincing
sign of your kingdom
for the
Church and the whole world.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
38
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly spent time in mental prayer.
39
Let us pray
for N., our pope.
May the Lord
protect him
and grant
him length of days.
Amen.
May the Lord
be his shield
and deliver
him from all harm.
Amen.
May the Lord
give him happiness and peace
all the days
of his life.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
40
0 sacrum convivium
How Holy This Feast
How holy
this feast
in which
Christ is our food:
his passion
is recalled,
grace fills
our hearts,
and we
receive a pledge of the glory to come.
V) You gave
them bread from heaven to be their food.
R) And
this bread contained all goodness.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus
Christ, you gave us the eucharist
as the
memorial of your suffering and death.
May our
worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to
experience the salvation you won for us
and the
peace of the kingdom
where you
live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for
ever and ever.
R) Amen.
(Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of
the Eucharist outside Mass, nos. 65, 200.)
A partial indulgence.
41
Praedicationis sacrae participatio
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who attentively and devoutly assist at the preaching of the
Word of God.
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who on the occasion of a
mission have heard some of the sermons and are present for its solemn
conclusion.
42
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful when they receive their first
communion and also when they devoutly assist at a first communion ceremony.
43
A plenary
indulgence is granted a priest celebrating his first Mass with a
congregation on a scheduled day. The same indulgence is also granted the
faithful who devoutly participate in that Mass.
44
Pro christianorum unitate oratio
Prayer for the Unity of
Christians
Almighty and
eternal God,
you gather
the scattered sheep
and watch
over those you have gathered.
Look kindly
on all who follow Jesus, your Son.
You have
marked them with the seal of one baptism;
now make
them one in the fullness of faith
and unite
them in the bond of love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
A partial
indulgence.
45
Recollectio menstrua
Monthly Period of Recollection
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who participate in a monthly period of recollection.
46
Requiem aeternam
Prayer for the Dead
Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.
(Cf. Roman Ritual, The Order of Christian Funerals.)
A partial indulgence, applicable only to the
souls in purgatory.
47
Reward those
who have been good to us
for the sake
of your name, 0 Lord,
and give
them eternal life.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
48
A plenary
indulgence is granted when the rosary is recited in a church or oratory or
when it is recited in a family, a religious community, or a pious association.
A partial indulgence is granted for its recitation in all other
circumstances.
(The rosary is a prayer formula divided into
fifteen decades of Hail Mary’s with the Lord’s Prayer separating each of
these decades. During each of these decades we recall in devout meditation the
mysteries of our redemption.)
It has become customary to call but five such
decades the “rosary” also. Concerning this customary usage then, the following
norms are given as regards a plenary
indulgence.
1. The recitation of a third of the rosary is sufficient for obtaining the plenary indulgence, but these
five decades must be recited without interruption.
2. Devout
meditation on the mysteries is to be added to the vocal prayer.
3. In its public
recitation the mysteries must be announced in accord with approved local
custom, but in its private recitation it is sufficient for the Christian
faithful simply to join meditation on the mysteries to the vocal prayer.
4. In the Eastern
Churches where recitation of the Marian rosary as a devotional practice is not
found, the patriarchs can establish other prayers in honor of the blessed
Virgin Mary which will have the same indulgences as those attached to the
rosary, (e.g., in the Byzantine churches, the Akathist hymn, or the office Paraclisis.)*
49
A plenary
indulgence is granted to a priest who on his 25th, 50th, and 60th
anniversary of priestly ordination renews before God the promise made by him to
faithfully fulfill the duties of his vocation.
And when the Christian faithful participate in
the jubilee Mass celebrated by the priest, they also can obtain a plenary indulgence.
50
Sacrae Scripturae lectio
Reading the Sacred Scriptures
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who read sacred scripture with the veneration due God’s word
and as a form of spiritual reading. The indulgence will be a plenary one when such reading
is done for at least one-half hour.
51
Salve, Regina
Hail, Holy Queen
Hail, holy
Queen, Mother of mercy,
hail, our
life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To you we
cry, the children of Eve;
to you we
send up our sighs,
mourning and
weeping in this land of exile.
Turn, then,
most gracious advocate,
your eyes of
mercy toward us;
lead us home
at last
and show us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus:
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
(The Liturgy of
the Hours, Night Prayer.)
A partial indulgence.
52
Holy Mary,
help those
in need,
give
strength to the weak,
comfort the
sorrowful,
pray for
God’s people,
assist the
clergy,
intercede
for religious.
May all who
seek your help
experience
your unfailing protection.
Amen.
A partial indulgence.
53
Sancti Apostoli Petre et Paule
Invocation to Saints Peter and
Paul
Saints Peter
and Paul, pray for us.
Lord, come
to the aid of your people,
who rely on
the help of your holy apostles;
protect us
and be our defense for ever.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
54
Sanctorum cultus
Cult of the Saints
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who on the day of the liturgical feast of any saint recite
in that saint’s honor the prayer taken from the missal or another prayer
approved by legitimate authority.
55
Signum crucis
Sign of the Cross
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly sign themselves with the cross while saying the
customary formula: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.”
56
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly visit a stational church on its stational day.
The indulgence will be a plenary
one if they also take part in the morning or evening services conducted in that
church. (Cf. the Ceremonial for Bishops, numbers 260-261.)
57
We turn to
you for protection,
holy Mother
of God.
Listen to
our prayers
and help us
in our needs.
Save us from
every danger,
glorious and
blessed Virgin.
(The Liturgy
of the Hours, Night Prayer.)
A partial
indulgence.
58
A plenary
indulgence is granted for one time only to the Christian faithful who,
during the time of a diocesan synod, devoutly visit the church in which the
synod is held and there recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed.
59
Tantum ergo
Secret Past Imagination
Secret past
imagination, dazzling and compelling awe;
Sacrament
and celebration richer than the ancient law:
Faith can
see by revelation more than senses ever saw.
Praise the
Lord with exultation for the marvels he has done:
Blessing, power, and adoration to the Father and
the Son
For creation and salvation; and the Spirit, Three
in One.
Amen.
V) You gave them bread from heaven to be their
food.
R) And this bread contained all goodness.
Let us pray.
Lord Jesus
Christ,
you gave us
the eucharist
as the
memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and
blood
help us to
experience the salvation you won for us
and the
peace of the kingdom
where you
live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for
ever and ever.
R) Amen.
(Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and Worship of
the Eucharist outside Mass, nos. 97 and 98.)
A partial indulgence is
granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite the above verses. The
indulgence will be a plenary one
on Holy Thursday after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and on the solemnity of
the Body and Blood of Christ during its liturgical rites.
60
Te Deum
You are God:
we praise you;
You are the
Lord: we acclaim you;
You are the
eternal Father:
All creation
worships you.
To you all
angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and
Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious
company of apostles praises you.
The noble
fellowship of prophets praises you.
The
white-robed army of martyrs praises you.
Throughout
the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ,
are the king of glory,
the eternal
Son of the Father.
When you
became man to set us free
you did not
spurn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame
the sting of death,
and opened
the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are
seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe
that you will come, and be our judge.
Come then,
Lord, and help your people,
bought with
the price of your own blood,
and bring us
with your saints
to glory
everlasting.
V) Save your
people, Lord, and bless your inheritance.
R) Govern
and uphold them now and always.
V) Day by
day we bless you.
R) We
praise your name forever.
V) Keep us
today, Lord, from all sin.
R) Have
mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
V) Lord,
show us your love and mercy;
R) for we
put our trust in you.
V) In you,
Lord, is our hope:
R) and we
shall never hope in vain.
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who recite the hymn, Te Deum, as an act of
thanksgiving. The indulgence will be a plenary
one if this hymn is publicly recited on the last day of the year.
61
Veni, Creator
Come, Creator Spirit
O Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Life rises
vibrant out of death;
Come to
create, renew, inspire;
Come, kindle in our hearts your fire.
You are the
seeker’s sure resource,
Of burning
love the living source,
Protector in
the midst of strife,
The giver
and the Lord of life.
In you God’s
energy is shown,
To us your
varied gifts made known.
Teach us to
speak, teach us to hear;
Yours is the
tongue and yours the ear.
Flood our
dull senses with your light;
In mutual
love our hearts unite.
Your power
the whole creation fills;
Confirm our
weak, uncertain wills.
From inner
strife grant us release;
Turn nations
to the ways of peace.
To fuller
life your people bring
That as one
body we may sing:
Praise to
the Father, Christ, his Word,
And to the
Spirit: God the Lord,
To whom all
honor, glory be
Both now and
for eternity. Amen.
Alt. Rabanus
Maurus (776-856); tr. John Webster Grant (b.1919), alt. (Hymnbook 1982, no.
502).
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly recite the hymn, Veni, Creator. The
indulgence will be a plenary
one when this hymn is recited publicly on the first day of January and on
the solemnity of Pentecost.
62
V) Come,
Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
R) And
kindle in them the fire of your love.
V) Send
forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
R) And
you will renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray.
Lord,
by the light of the Holy Spirit
you have
taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same
Spirit
help us to
relish what is right
and always
rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
R) Amen.
A partial indulgence.
63
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly make the Stations
of the Cross. This devout exercise of the Stations of the Cross helps renew our
remembrance of the sufferings that our divine redeemer underwent on his journey
from Pilate’s praetorium, where he was condemned to death, to Mount Calvary,
where for our salvation he died on the cross.
The norms for obtaining this plenary indulgence are the following:
1. This devout exercise must be performed before
stations of the cross that have been lawfully erected.
2. Fourteen crosses are required in order to
erect the Stations of the Cross. As an aid to devotion these crosses are
customarily attached to fourteen tableaux or images representing the Jerusalem
stations.
3. In accord with the more common custom, this
devout exercise consists of fourteen pious readings to which are joined some
vocal prayers. But in order to perform this devout exercise it is required only
that one devoutly meditate upon the passion and death of the Lord. It is not
required that one meditate upon each of the individual mysteries of the
stations.
4. Movement from one station to the next is
required. If this devout exercise is carried out publicly and such movement by
all present cannot be done without some disorder, it is sufficient that the
person who is leading the exercise move from station to station while the
others remain in their places.
5. Persons who are legitimately prevented from
fulfilling the above requirements can obtain this indulgence if they at least
spend some time, e.g., fifteen minutes, in devout reading and meditation upon
the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Equivalent to this devout exercise of the
Stations of the Cross — even with regard to obtaining the indulgence — are
those other devout exercises which have been approved by competent authority
and which call to mind the remembrance of the Lord’s passion and death in a
manner similar to the Stations of the Cross.
7. In order to obtain this indulgence, the
patriarchs can establish some other devout exercise in memory of the passion
and death of our Lord Jesus Christ for those Eastern Christian faithful whose
usages do not include this exercise of the Stations.
64
Visit this
house,
we beg you,
Lord,
and banish
from it
the deadly
power of the evil one.
to keep us
in peace,
and may your
blessing be always upon us.
We ask this
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(The Liturgy of the Hours, Night Prayer after
Sunday Evening Prayer.)
A partial indulgence.
65
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly make a visit to a
parish church:
1) on its titular feast day;
2) on August 2, the day on which the Portiuncula indulgence occurs.
These same indulgences can be obtained either on
the days mentioned above or on other days determined by the ordinary so that
the faithful can take better advantage of them.
The same indulgences are also attached to the
cathedral church and, if there be one, to the co-cathedral church, even if
neither of these is a parish church. They are also attached to a quasi-parish
church.4
These indulgences are already contained in the
apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum
doctrina, norm 15. They are included here in light of the Sacred
Penitentiary’s deliberations since the constitution was issued.
According to norm 16 of the apostolic
constitution, this visit is to include the “recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and
the Creed (Pater and Credo).”5
66
Visitatio ecclesiae vel altaris die dedicationis
Visiting a Church or an Altar on
the Day of its Dedication
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or
altar on the same day it is dedicated and recite there the Lord’s Prayer and
the Creed.
67
Visitatio ecclesiae
vel oratorii in
Commemoratione
omnium fidelium defunctorum
on All Souls Day
A plenary
indulgence, which is applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted
the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or an oratory on All Souls
Day.
This indulgence can be obtained either on the
day mentioned above or, with the consent of the ordinary, on the preceding or
following Sunday or on the solemnity of All Saints.
This indulgence is already contained in the
apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum
doctrina, norm 15. It is included here in light of the Sacred Penitentiary’s
deliberations since the constitution was issued.
According to norm 16 of the apostolic
constitution, this visit is to include the “recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and
the Creed (Pater and Credo).”6
68
Visitatio ecclesiae vel oratorii Religiosorum die eorum
Fundatori sacro
A plenary
indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or
an oratory of Religious on a day dedicated to their founder and there recite
the Pater and the Credo.
69
Visitatio pastoralis
Pastoral Visitation
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who devoutly visit a church or an oratory during the time
when a pastoral visitation is being conducted there. The indulgence is a plenary one, to be obtained but
once, if during the time of the pastoral visitation they participate in a
religious service over which the visitor presides.
70
Votorum baptismalium renovatio
Renewal of Baptismal Promises
A partial indulgence is granted the
Christian faithful who renew their baptismal promises through any customary
formula. When they do this during the celebration of the Easter Vigil or on the
anniversary of their own baptism, they obtain a plenary indulgence.
V) Do you
reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God’s children?
R) I do.
V) Do you
reject the glamor of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin?
R) I do.
V) Do you
reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?
R) I do.
V) Do you
believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R) I do.
V) Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son
our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried,
rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
R) I do.
V) Do
you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting?
R) I
do.
V) This is our faith. This is the faith of the
Church.
We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
R) Amen.
Footnotes
for the GRANTS file
(Note:
Footnote #1 is the final footnote of the TYPES file)
2 Cf. Code
of Canon Law, canon 1246, paragraph 1.
3 To bless
devotional objects rightly the priest or deacon should observe the liturgical
formularies prescribed in the Book of Blessings from the Roman Ritual. In this
matter, however, it is worth noting that a sign of the cross is sufficient for
the blessing, although it is recommended that the words, “In the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” be added. Cf. Roman Ritual, De
Benedictionibus, numbers 1165 and 1182 (Latin edition) [
4 Cf. Code
of Canon Law, canon 516, paragraph 1.
5 Confer
also above, norm 25, page 23.
6 Confer
also above, norm 22, page 22.